Michael Tabachnick
Senior Legal Assistant
Mike was born in New York, New York and relocated shortly thereafter with his family to Tamarac, Florida. Upon graduating from high school, he attended the Florida Culinary Institute and received an Associates Degree in Culinary Arts. He then attended Broward Community College for two years before transferring to Florida Atlantic University, where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing.
Mike began his career in the banking industry in 1996 at a community bank as a Credit and Collateral Analyst and shortly thereafter was promoted to be a Portfolio Manager. He then moved to a larger bank as an Assistant Vice President of Lending, where he first began to work on U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans. After developing several years of experience as the bank’s SBA Loan Closing Specialist, Mike accepted an offer from a national non-bank SBA lender to be its SBA Loan Closing Specialist, where he handled SBA 7(a) loans of all different sizes and complexities.
He joined Fogel Law Group in February 2006 as a Legal Assistant, advancing to Senior Legal Assistant in May 2009. At the Firm, Mike handles multiple types of financing transactions including SBA 504 loans and 7(a) loans and other types of U.S. Government Guaranteed Loans. He lives with his family in Lake Worth, Florida.
Jacqueline Washington
Client Services Director
Jackie was born in Warsaw, Virginia and attended the University of Maryland, where she majored in Business Administration. In 2005, Jackie and her family moved to Boca Raton, Florida, where she now resides.
Before moving to Florida, Jackie worked as an Administrative Assistant for executives at the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP); and as an Office Manager at the Hertz Corporation and other large corporations. Jackie also served as a loan officer in a successful mortgage company in Maryland.
In August 2005, Jackie joined Fogel Law Group as the Firm’s Receptionist. In 2007, Jackie became Mr. Fogel’s Administrative Assistant and, in 2008, she was named the Firm’s Client Services Director, in which role she ensures that the Firm’s clients receive prompt, courteous and effective service on post-Closing subjects and other matters.
Megan Staples
Legal Assistant (Jacksonville, Florida Office)
Megan was born and raised in Jacksonville, FL and attended the University of Florida where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in Ecology.
Megan began her career in the banking industry in 2011 at a community bank as a SBA Sales Analyst and shortly thereafter was promoted to be the SBA Divisional Operations Manager, where she supervised the closings of all SBA 7(a) and 504 loans, along with holding key responsibilities related to packaging, loan funding, secondary market sales, construction management, and even creating and assembling sales team marketing materials.
Megan joined Fogel Law Group in December 2014 as a Legal Assistant. She handles various types of transactions including commercial real estate closings, title insurance matters, and SBA 7(a) and 504 loan closings. She lives with her husband and family in Jacksonville, FL.
Michelle Marchese
Legal Assistant
Michelle was born in Coral Gables, Florida, and raised in West Palm Beach. Michelle began her career in the banking industry in 1985 at First Federal of the Palm Beaches, first as a teller, then worked as a loan processor at Fidelity Federal. In 2007, Michelle moved to Florida First Capital Finance Corporation (FFCFC), where her responsibilities included coordination of SBA 504 closings, pre-closing loan processing, 504 loan debenture submissions, working with FFCFC’s closing counsel on pre- and post-closing matters, and assisting the Closing Manager with day-to-day responsibilities.
Michelle joined Fogel Law Group in June 2016 as a Legal Assistant, where her primary work involves 504 loan closings and debenture submissions. She lives in Lake Clark Shores, FL.
Nina Vazquez
Office Manager; Legal Assistant
Nina was born and raised in Miami, Florida and attended Florida International University, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree in 2014. After graduating from FIU, Nina got her Paralegal Degree from the University of Miami Paralegal Program in 2016.
Nina joined Fogel Law Group in January 2017 as a Legal Assistant, where she handles various types of transactions including commercial real estate closings, title insurance matters, business opportunities, and SBA 7(a) loan closings. In January 2020, Nina was made the firm Office Manager.
Holly Strykek
Legal Assistant
Holly was born and raised in South Florida and attended Florida Atlantic University, where she majored in Criminal Justice. She now resides in Delray Beach Florida. Holly joined the Fogel Law Group in May of 2019 as a Legal Assistant, where she handles various types of transactions including commercial real estate closings, title insurance matters, business opportunities, and SBA 7(a) and 504 loan closings.
Kayla Markovich
Legal Assistant
Kayla born in North Carolina and raised in Indiana. After graduating from high school, she moved to Boca Raton, Florida where she attended Palm Beach State College and received the Associate of Science Paralegal Degree in 2014. Kayla joined the Fogel Law Group in November 2019 as a Legal Assistant, where she handles various types of transactions including commercial real estate closings, title insurance matters, business opportunities, and SBA 7(a) and 504 loan closings.
Lauren Monte
Legal Assistant (Coral Gables, Florida Office)
Lauren was born in Nicaragua, and raised in Miami, Florida. Lauren began her career in the real estate industry in 2001, first as a closing processor, then worked as a Senior Legal Assistant, where her responsibilities included assisting attorneys in all aspects of commercial, residential, and construction real estate transactions from contracts and loan commitments. She also assisted attorneys in all aspects of lender’s representation from drafting construction, commercial and residential loan documentation, closing documents and review and approval of company structure. Lauren joined Fogel Law Group in February 2020 as a Legal Assistant, operating out of the firm’s Miami-Dade office in Coral Gables, where her primary area involves SBA 7(a) loan closings, commercial real estate transactions, and residential real estate matters. Lauren currently lives in Coral Gables with her husband and Bruno, their rescued Boston Terrier.
